Housebuyers' frustration over length of wait to get keys to their new homes

Stressed-out purchasers of homes in a Kingscroft development in Ratoath have vented their anger and frustration over the lack of communication or updates on the new homes they had expected to move into a year ago.

One family was served notice to leave their rental property over a year ago and is living day-by-day in fear of ending up homeless; another couple is living with parents in Galway; while another man spends week nights couch surfing with friends as he has to be near Dublin for work.

The situation has been causing a massive amount of stress and frustration to buyers in the Wellfield development, many of whom still don't have any idea when they will get their keys with a lack of updates from developer Kingscroft or agents, Knight Frank.

Several of the houses appear to be virtually complete and have been for some time and buyers can't understand what is causing the delays in finishing off and getting their keys.

It is understood that just two homes have been handed over in the Close part of the development and snagging is under way for a number of others. However, for those who are buying in the Avenue and the Road, which are also in phase one of Wellfield, they have little idea when they will get into their new homes.

Matt Walsh and his wife, Emmanuella, put a deposit down on their home in January of last year and signed contracts in April 2024. They had hoped to be in their homes that summer, or allowing for delays, by September,

"We were expecting a delay of a month or two, but it has gone on and on with them blaming the weather, labour, ESB, water. Everyone but themselves. Our house is built, we can't understand what the delay is.

"Our whole life has been put on hold. It feels as if we are stuck in the one spot. The main thing is the communication. If they said the house would be ready in Q1 or Q2 of 2025, it wouldn't be ideal but you could plan around it."

Emmanuella said they have been in touch with TDs and councillors but says no one can get answers. "It doesn't matter how much pressure is put on, it does nothing"

"I don't know what is happening, I don't even know if we will be in this year. It is very frustrating," she said, adding that they also had to get their mortgage approval renewed a couple of times.

Adam Kenny-Singh is sofa surfing during the week as he awaits handover of the home he is buying in Wellfield. He still has no measurements for his new home. The situation has caused huge stress for him and he has blasted the lack of communication and updates saying that there doesn’t seem to be any consideration for buyers.

"If they told me last year, I would be in in July, I could make plans, he said”

He also said he would have had his brother who has additional needs stay with him to give his mother a break but hasn't been able to do so for over a year.

Local politicians have also been critical over the lack of information.

Meath East Sinn Féin TD Darren O'Rourke said: "This whole episode is incredibly frustrating on those desperately trying to get into their new home. The lack of information and the slipping timelines have a real impact on people.

“It's very unfair. In the case of Wellfield, I have engaged with the developer, Kingscroft, Uisce Éireann and ESB to try to get answers and to help move things along. It is very frustrating. When it comes to the developer, from my perspective, it has been an entirely negative experience."

Meanwhile, Cllr Nick Killian said the developer won't return his calls and said that he found them "impossible to deal with".

"In all my time dealing with builders in Ratoath who are usually accessible and will tell you what is going on. If they have difficulties, they will explain them to you, but as far as Kingscroft are concerned, I have found them impossible to deal with."

"I've had people in tears on the phone to me who have had mortgages and then had to apply again so its caused difficulties for their own customers. I do not think they are being very fair to their own customers.”

Cllr Killian also pointed out that it is holding up part five homes from a council perspective with a total of 27 homes due to be allocated which would take people from the Meath County Council housing list.

Meath East TD Minister Thomas Byrne said he had met with Kingscroft at their office a couple of months ago regarding other issues at the site and had been in touch with them as recently as last Friday and was awaiting a response.

"It seems to be one thing after the other here, that's part of the problem. We will continue to keep the pressure on them. It is very difficult. Young people are putting their lives on hold and it is causing difficulties with mortgages as well."

When asked what can be done at government level to help people in these situations, he said: "At the end of the day, there is a contract there.

“Unfortunately these contracts do give builders discretion because obviously things can happen that are unexpected from time to time on a building site.

"These contracts are agreed at national level between the Builders Association and the Law Society of Ireland, maybe it is something we should be looking at, in that there needs to be some kind of penalisation if the builder doesn't perform.

“The buyer would be penalised if they didn't pay on time, they could potentially be charged interest. I think we need to look at these again, the Law Society and Builders Association should re-examine these standard form contracts as they seem to give the builders too much leeway and allow for too many delays."

Wellfield developer Kingscroft has been contacted by the Meath Chronicle, but had not responded at time of going to press.